Power outage triggers computer blackouts

HONOLULU (KHNL) - If you haven't turned on your computer since the power outage, you might want to check if it still works. Computer repair shops say they're seeing a surge in customers whose computers were fried during the blackout.

"It'll enable you to use your computer for a short period of time after a power outage. It gives you time to save your files properly shut down your computer," said Dao.

A battery backup for a home costs about $60 to $80. But the simplest protection lies in your hands.

"Unplug your computer when the power goes out, or any sensitive electronic equipment. It's one of the first things you should do," said Kingman.

That's a lesson learned that comes with a price. The average cost to fix a computer blown out from a blackout? About $200.

Electronic damage typically happens when power comes back on, and the surge shorts a computer's power supply. Sometimes, problems don't start immediately. Kingman says there are cases when symptoms show up a month after a power outage.